A desire to get people talking about mental health is behind Middlesbrough man Richard Kirby’s plan to complete 30 challenges in 2025.
Between 2014-20, and to put the focus on depression and mental health issues, Richard, of Normanby, attempted 100 challenges – ranging from meeting an Olympian to performing his own stand-up routine. And now, to mark turning 60, he’s at it again – only this time, he has until the end of the year to complete his latest eclectic list of 30 tasks.
From trying to hit an archery bullseye to presenting the “best turned out” prize at a horse race meeting, Richard’s list of challenges will take some completing. All this from someone who faces a continuing challenge of his own – living with a long-term form of depression, persistent depressive disorder.
Diagnosed with depression in 2004, Richard never really spoke about how he felt until 2011, when a combination of personal circumstances and the suicide of footballer Gary Speed saw him open up on a blog about his own feelings – a move that prompted a “really positive and encouraging” response. Three years later, on turning 50, he decided he wanted to do something to raise the profile of mental health issues and to show people that talking about difficult subjects, and asking for help if you are struggling, are positives.
He set himself 40 challenges but as it became more addictive, that expanded to 100 before lockdown forced a halt in 2020. Now, five years on, he’s up for the challenge(s) again – and by appearing on Redcar radio station Zetland FM, and having a song he recorded with ex-Journey South member Carl Pemberton and Carl’s son Luke played on the station, he’s already ticked off two of the 30.
Richard Kirby performing a stand-up routine at The Strand
(Image: UGC)
Former NHS worker Richard, who’s married to Elaine and has two grown-up daughters and a stepson, said his original 100 challenges were a “really positive experience”. He told Teesside Live: “Everybody knows somebody who has an issue and needs support in one way, shape or form – and I thought if I could possibly make a difference, I’d try.”
Among the highlights of his first 100 challenges, says Richard, were meeting an Olympic gold medallist in the form of 1964 Olympic 800m gold medallist Ann Packer, and racing an Olympic swimmer – Beijing 100m breaststroker Chris Cook who, says, Richard, still beat him by 10m, despite giving Richard a 50m start. He met a “teenage crush” – singer Maureen Nolan of The Nolan Sisters – and a Rio Olympic medallist, trampolinist Bryony Page.
Singer Maureen Nolan with Richard Kirby
(Image: UGC)
He also sparred with Guisborough boxer Josh Leather. Richard recalls: “It took about 30 seconds before the inside of my mouth was cut. In his world, it was probably nothing more than a tap but in my world, it was frightening because I didn’t even see it coming.”
The most difficult challenge, however, was performing stand-up at The Strand comedy club in Newcastle. He said: “I’ve never been so nervous about anything in my life but it went better than I could have hoped.” Now he’s starting to tick off his 2025 challenges – but behind it all, he says, remains a desire to get people talking about mental health.
He said: “I retired last June but when the New Year came, I was determined to give myself that purpose back. Now I feel strong enough to try a few more challenges and make a fool of myself but, hopefully, it might resonate with one or two people – and if they want to talk, or if they want to share with me or me to share with them, that’s basically what this is about.
Olympic trampolinist Bryony Page with Richard Kirby
(Image: UGC)
“Hopefully, there might be one or two groups or organisations out there who might want me to come along and chat with them, face to face. If anybody does want to share stories or listen to my experience, I’m more than happy to take the car and drive out to spend an hour or two showing it’s not that bad to share and difficult subjects need to be talked about as openly as possible. I might not be the greatest speaker in the world but I’m willing to go out there and be open and honest – and if that allows anybody to get the courage or confidence to open up themselves, that would be good.
“I’m not setting myself up as an expert or anything like that – I just have lived experience and I’m very fortunate enough to be in a position where I feel I’m strong enough to talk about it.” To contact Richard email richard.kirby50@gmail.com
Richard’s 30 Challenges
1. Lose a minimum of 20lbs in weight
2. Catch up with someone I met through the original challenges
3. Meet a racehorse trainer
4. Try and hit an archery bullseye
5. Meet my local MP
6. Bowl at a county cricketer
7. Share my mental health experiences with people I don’t know
8. Sing or record a song with a band
9. Meet someone who has had a top 10 single
10. Have my song ‘Million Miles’ played on the radio
11. Meet Sara Davies from Dragon’s Den
12. Complete a charity darts marathon
13. List all 88 constellations in five minutes
14. Take a penalty stroke against a hockey goalkeeper
15. Meet a women’s rugby union international
16. Meet someone who has competed in the Olympics
17. Appear on radio
18. Try my hand at sketching
19. Have my Coronation Street barmaids book published
20. Do some cricket catching practice
21. Meet a women’s cricket international
22. Present the best turned out award at a race meeting
23. Sing or record a duet
24. List all 159 classic Doctor Who stories in 20 minutes
25. Meet someone who has appeared in Coronation Street
26. Appear on stage
27. Have a go at playing tennis (shoulder and hip joints permitting)
28. Catch up with an old school friend, a former cricket teammate and an ex-work colleague
29. Meet at least one female athlete I most admire: Funmi Fadoju, Keely Hodgkinson, Ellie Kildunne and Phoebe Litchfield – no mileage limit on this one
30. Finish with a tattoo of the Roman numeral representing the number of these challenges I manage to complete before the end of 2025
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